Gain a well-rounded insight into Thailand's environment and communities from our volunteer base in the awe-inspiring coastal region of Phang Nga. As an expedition member, you'll be assisting with climate and conservation issues that the region faces alongside our local partners. Volunteers will be involved in biodiversity research; turtle conservation, environmental education, island surveys, and more amongst some of the world's most dramatic and beautiful scenery.

This expedition will give you a holistic and well-rounded insight into the conservation issues facing the region and the measures our teams are taking to in response. Besides hands-on conservation activities, you will become immersed in the culture through various community initiatives to promote environmental education.

Please note our conservation efforts on this expedition are seasonal so projects will vary throughout the course of the year. During the dry season (Nov-May) the program includes weekly snorkelling surveys assisting with our coastal and marine conservation whereas during the rainy season (May-Nov) projects focus more towards terrestrial conservation.

Highlights
Work toward conserving the Endangered Green Sea turtle, monitor Thai bird life, clear plastic off the beaches, and improve environmental awareness throughout the community.
Visit the ever-popular beaches of Phuket in your free time and experience the truly awe-inspiring beaches, islands and underwater worlds of Southern Thailand.
Stand the chance of contributing to several seasonal conservation efforts, including tropical island biodiversity surveys and coral surveys while snorkeling.
Live and work with GVI staff and other participants from around the world.
Contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goal #14 and #15, Life Below Water and Land and Life.

Resrutt

Thailand Coastal Conservation Expedition

About Your Location

Our project base located in Ban Nam Khem gives volunteers the opportunity to be immersed in the local culture with chances to explore local attractions on your project downtime. Only a 10 min walk from the beach and a 15 min walk to the centre of the village where you can find a little markey and street food vendors.

Project Life

We always design our projects in collaboration with local organisations and communities to ensure that they are locally driven.
Throughout the expedition you will be immersed in various areas of conservation, community development and environmental awareness. You will also have time available to further explore the region and get to know your team of fellow international volunteers. Conservation projects will involve working with the Royal Thai turtle research headstart program where we help with turtle husbandry and morphology studies, beach cleans and plastic pollution prevention, bird and butterfly surveys in nearby National Parks and environmental awareness education.

Community development and environmental awareness projects may involve environmental education with the general community, local schools, hotels and tour & dive operators, as well as English language teaching to the general community. We have been working in our local province of Phang Nga for several years, providing 1000’s of hours of classroom teaching.

Your immersion in various projects is very much dependent on the needs of our project and our project’s partners, which changes seasonally. November to March you may be involved in coastal environment research and tourist education and management. The rainy season of May to October sees more terrestrial work such as biodiversity surveying in nearby national parks. Work with turtle research and conservation centres takes place year round, along with beach cleans and community education classes.

Project Details

We are working in Phang Nga in order to gain an understanding of the local ecosystem, help with current environmental protection initiatives, and conduct research contributing to future conservation efforts. Our goal is to sustain the long-term conservation of the area and aid in the preservation of the natural environment in conjunction with local communities. You will be working 4 days and 4.5 days on alternative weeks.

Our goal is to sustain the long-term conservation of marine and terrestrial systems by using a three-tiered approach:

1. Contribute to scientific understanding through research.
2. Educate and inform local people about conservation issues.
3. Building the capacity and desire of local people to operate sustainably.

Island Surveys

We also conduct biodiversity research on two nearby islands of Koh Ra and Koh Prathong year round to assist the Thai Department of National Parks in the effective management of these vital areas. This is an amazing part of our project that includes hiking through rainforest, staying in homestays on remote islands and camera trapping and GPS experience.

Please note that we only travel to the islands once a month, so participants who only join for two weeks might not get the opportunity to conduct island surveys.

How This Project Makes a Difference

Your presence as a volunteer will help to protect some of the world’s most beautiful forests, beaches and coral reef systems. By adopting a holistic conservation approach, we are educating the community on local environmental issues. This means dealing not only with research, but also the social and economic pressures that are leading to the destruction of Southern Thailand’s beautiful forests, rivers, reefs and beaches. Thailand is home to some of the world’s most majestic and captivating wildlife. You have an opportunity to help protect and conserve it.

Mandatory Volunteer Requirements

Minimum age of 18
Police Clearance Certificate (not older than 6 months)
Medical form
Basic level of competency in English
Copy of return flight itinerary
Acceptance subject to availability

What Makes a Good Volunteer?

Volunteers need to be flexible and keep an open mind concerning their placements as situations can arise beyond our control which could require you to be placed at a different project than the one you have initially chosen. We will of course always do our utmost to fulfill your initial wishes but do remember that where you are going is quite different from where you are coming and as such one should be prepared for things not always going according to plan.

Volunteering and intercultural travel share a common trait: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. This program is designed for proactive individuals and groups that are prepared to adapt to the local environment and its current needs. Naturally, the scheduling and activities of our program are subject to change. Alterations in activities are mainly due to changes in local conditions, which we believe is part of what makes overseas programs the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that they are.

How Long Should I Volunteer?

Our projects range from 1 week up to approx. 30 weeks. Projects have a specified minimum stay, then it’s up to you how long you can commit. In our experience the longer you stay the more you will gain, as your understanding of the project broadens and you take on more responsibilities. Every volunteer will be given a certificate of appreciation at the end of their stay as a symbol of volunteering stay.

Sammanfattning

Vad ingår?

Extra utgifter på plats

None

Aktiviteter

Volunteering with us not only allows you to participate on programs assisting disadvantaged communities or endangered ecosystems but it also offers wonderful opportunities to travel in the local area in your down time or further afield, either before or after your program. Below is some information on trips and travel options in Thailand.

Optional Side Trips
Take advantage of the amazing sites and scenery the Andaman region of Thailand has to offer. There are endless opportunities to visit islands, beaches, parks and caves and many can be done on weekends. While on the ground, we are here to help so make sure to ask our field staff to assist you with planning trips.

Explore the amazing Khao Sok National Park, including the stunning Cheow Larn Lake and 740km² of rainforest and which is home to elephants, leopards, tigers, deer, monkeys, lizards, birds, and the Rafflesia - the largest flowers in the world, 90cm across with a unique aroma…of rotting flesh! Take a day trip for a quick sample of the park’s delights or stay overnight and discover even more - perhaps in one of the jungle tree houses, or even on a bungalow that floats on the lake. Trek through the jungle, kayak around Cheow Larn lake visiting spectacular limestone caves, swim in idyllic waterfalls or just relax and see what you can spot!

Khao Lak is a very popular tourist spot close by, with beautiful, seemingly endless beaches, so many dining options you’ll be spoilt for choice and hundreds of spas offering massages and treatments at reasonable rates. With a wide range of accommodation options, from luxury resorts to hostels, Khao Lak offers you the chance to spoil yourself for a few days, whether you’re on a budget or looking to splurge a little.

The Similan and Surin Island groups, both under the protection of their Marine National Park status, are home to some of the best diving and snorkelling spots in the region. You can take a day trip, stay on a live aboard boat or even stay overnight on the islands themselves.

Phuket Island, about 90 mins south of Khao Lak and renowned for its colourful night life is also a great stop-off for divers and snorkelers, but if you’re not the diving type you can explore Phang Nga Bay by speed-boat or sea kayak, stopping off at James Bond Island, made famous by the 1974 film ‘The Man With the Golden Gun’ before visiting the floating Sea Gypsy village. Phuket is also very popular with surfers, playing host to annual surfing competitions, though there is a great ‘secret spot’ near Khao Lak…if you’re interested, staff will show you the way!

Neighbouring Krabi Province is a treasure trove for intrepid travellers; from the crystal clear Emerald Pond to the epic 1,237-step climb up to the Buddha image and stunning views at the Tiger Temple Cave to the enchanted scenery and pools of Than Bok Khoranee National Park to the shopping and late night bars of Ao Nang to the chilled out beaches of Koh Lanta Island to the parties of Phi Phi, where ‘The Beach’ was filmed - the options are truly endless!

Boende

Accommodation is in dorm style rooms, with en-suite bathrooms, running cold water. The maximum number of volunteers per room is 6. Please note that sometimes the rooms are mixed gender. Participants share all base duties, including cleaning the common area and the resource room and other daily chores. Drinking water will be provided.You need to bring your own bedding for example a thin sleeping bag liner.

If you need to stay additional nights before or after your project you need to book these separately, ask your travel consultant for help.

Lokal transport

Airport pick-ups can be arranged from Phuket Airport between 12:00 and 18:00 the day prior to your start date, if requested. The meeting point on the arrival date (Saturday) is at 10:00 at Phuket Airport Place.

Måltider

From Sunday to Thursday, dinner and lunch is prepared for the group by cooks from the village. On Friday and Saturday volunteers and staff prepare their meals together. Breakfast includes bread, toast, margarine, milk and oats. Lunch and dinners are usually local rice and noodle dishes with curries and stirfries. Expect to eat a lot of rice! We offer 3 meals a day but extra snacks and drinks are at your own expense.

Observera att

Technical difficulties not withstanding, there is WiFi available at the volunteer base. Mobile/cell phones are affordable and Thai SIM cards are extremely cheap. You can buy top-up cards for reasonably priced calls in and out of Thailand. Phone shops are plentiful in nearby tourist areas.